Manjhi may take BJP's support to run government: Minister

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi may take support from the BJP to run the government, a minister said Saturday, after the JD-U legislature party elected Nitish Kumar as its leader.

"We will take support of the BJP to run the government if there is any such need," minister Narendra Singh, who is considered close to Manjhi, told the media.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, did not say anything about supporting Manjhi.

Narendra Singh and another minister Bhim Singh left for Delhi to talk to the BJP's national leadership to get the party's support, a Janata Dal-United leader said.

During a cabinet meeting Saturday, both these ministers supported the move of the chief minister to dissolve the Bihar assembly.

According to officials in the Chief Minister's Office, Manjhi was likely to leave for Delhi Saturday night to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday.

Manjhi, who had earlier recommended the dismissal of two ministers and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi accepted it, later recommended the dismissal of 15 more ministers of his cabinet.

However, party leaders close to Nitish Kumar, who was elected the new leader of the JD-U legislature party, said party president Sharad Yadav has appealed to all legislators to support Nitish Kumar.

The JD-U has 115 legislators in the 243-member assembly. It is supported by 24 legislators of Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal, five of the Congress, one from the Communist Party of India and two independents -- that is more than the simple majority figure of 122.

The opposition BJP has 88 legislators and it enjoys the support of three independents. Five seats are vacant at present.